Neon illuminating unit for traffic indicators



June 16, 1936. H. L. CAREY NEON ILLUMINATING UNIT FOR TRAFFIC INDICATORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fil ed Jan. 14, 1935 IG-n5.

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Patented June 16, 1936 NEON ILLUMINATING UNIT FOR TRAFFIC INDICATORS Harry Lansing Carey, Great Neck, N. Y.

Application January 14, 1935, Serial No. 1,720

9 Claims.

This invention relates to lighting units which, while not necessarily restricted to such use, are especially designed for illuminating traific indicators of the type set forth in my prior United States Letters Patent, No. 1,834,332, granted December l, 1931.

It has been the practice to utilize the usual types of incandescent filament lamp bulbs for illuminating traffic indicators of this character and while they have heretofore proven satisfactory, the amount of current consumed by such types of illuminating means represents a consider able expense to municipalities or. others who use a large number of indicators.

The present invention, therefore, broadly comprehends an improved type of lighting unit for traffic indicators of the character set forth, which unit includes a transformer and neon gas tubes by virtue of which a substantial economy is'eifected in the amount of current consumed, while obtaining a superior degree of illumination.

More particularly the invention resides in the provision of a lighting unit of the character set forth and for the purpose specified, which is so constructed and arranged as to fit within and distribute the light in order to more uniformly illuminate the indicator than has heretofore been possible with a single incandescent filament bulb.

' The invention embodies, as further features thereof, an improved illuminating unit including a step-up transformer which is fashioned to provide a novel arrangement of sockets with which specially designed neon gas tubes are associated; an effective means for retaining the tubes in associated relation with the sockets, together with means for compensating for the vibration to which they are subjected; efficient means for shielding the electrical connections and the various parts of the unit from the elements so as to avoid short circuiting or other causes from which defective operation may result, While protecting persons handling the unit from injury or shock.

The invention further provides an illuminating unit of the indicated character which embodies or but a comparatively few and simple parts, ca-

variations and modifications thereof which fall within the scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side view partially in section of the improved lighting unit constructed in accordance with one form of the invention and illustrating the same installed in a trafiic indicator which is shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view on an enlarged scale of the traffic indicator with the improved lighting unit installed therein, the cover plate of the traffic indicator and the tube retaining plate of the unit being removed.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately on the line 4-4- of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the one of the neon gas tubes removed from the lighting unit.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the wiring.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a modified form of lighting unit with the cover section shown in broken lines.

Fig. 8 is a side view thereof partially in section with the cover section applied, parts of the same being shown in section to disclose the underlying structure.

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a view diagrammatically illustrating the wiring.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, a traffic indicating device is disclosed, of the type illustrated in my prior United States Letters Patent, No. 1,834,332, granted December 1, 1931, and which indicator includes a hollow casing It), the central portion of which is formed with a depending hollow boss H and which is provided with oppositely extending hollow wings l2 and I3 having. light outlet slots I t and apertures [5. The medial upper portion of the casing I0 is formed with an opening I 6 for gaining accessto the interior to emplace and remove a lighting unit, a removable cover section I1 being. provided for normally closing the opening, it.

The lighting unit for use in connection with the traffic indicator, includes a step-up transformer, designated generally by the reference character 20 and which comprises a core 2|, a primary winding 22 having a plug 23 for connection with a suitable source of supply, such as H8 volt service line. The transformer also. includes a pair of independent secondary windthe conductors 26 and 21 are attached. Neon gas tubes 33 are provided, one for each of the current outlet members, and said tubes are bent upon themselves to provide a pair of leads 34 joined by a bight 35 and provided with downturned ends 36 having the conductorterminals 37 for engagement with the contacts 32 when the downturned ends 36 of the tube are engagedin the sockets 30 and 3| of the current outlet member.

In order to compensate for vibration, while maintaining a constant contact, the terminals 31 are surrounded by coil expansion springs 38 of a conducting material which conveys the current from the contacts 32 to the terminals 31, should the conductor terminals 31, through vibration, become disengaged from the contacts 32. It will also be observed that in order to prevent rain from possibly bridging across and short circuiting the contacts within the sockets of the outlet members 28 and 29, the transverse central portion thereof is provided with an upstanding boss or rib 89 which also serves as a seat for the attaching ears 46 of the transformer cover shell through which the bolts 4| extend.

In order to removably retain the neon tubes 33 in the sockets, a retaining plate 42 is provided which is removably attached by a thumb screw 43 to the upper transformer shell so that the opposite ends thereof overlie and contact with the side leads 34 adjacent their downturned inner ends 36. The retaining plate 42 is also provided with apertures 44 through which the upstanding ends of the bolts 4i extend to prevent rotative movement of the cover plate.

The lower transformer shell 45 is formed with a tubular depending skirt 46 which is tapered slightly in a downward direction and is designed to telescopically fit within the hollow boss H to support the lighting unit within the indicator casing ID with one neon tube 33 extending into the wing i2 and the other into the wing 13 whereby the light outlet slots and apertures are more uniformally illuminated.

A current intake socket 41 is located within the hollow boss I I and is suitably connected with a source of supply, and is designedto receive the plug 23 when the skirt 46 is fitted in the boss ll of the indicator casing. In order to prevent the collection of water and to insure drainage of the same from the boss I l, the outer surface of the skirt 46 is provided with circumferentially spaced vertically extending drainage grooves 48.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive, a transformer 56 is utilized for stepping-up the voltage from the source to that required for neon tubes as in the previous form, and includes the primary winding 5|, the core 52 and a pair of secondary windings 53 and54. In

this instance, the primary winding is connected by conductors 55 and 56 to a plug 51 adapted for connection with a suitable source of current sup- -ply and the conductors 55 and 56 are respectively provided with'the gaps 58 and 53 which are adapted to be bridged by the bridge elements 60 and 6| in order to complete the circuit to the primary coil.

In this form of the invention, the neon tubes N are of the return bend type having conductor terminals 62 which are fitted into contact clips 63 which are arranged respectively in the circuits of the secondary windings 53 and 54. The contact clips are carried by Wings 64 of insulating material which project from opposite sides of the transformer. The Wings 64 also carry spring clips 65 engageable with the neon tubes to hold the same in associated relation with the wings and to retain the conductor terminals 62 in engagement with the contact clips 63. The gaps 58 and 59 in the primary conductor wires 55 and 56 are arranged in insulator sockets 66 respectively located on opposite sides of the transformer.

A removable cover section 61 is adapted to be fitted over the transformer 50 to overlie the same and the wings 64 as well as the insulator sockets 66 and the bridge elements 66 and BI are carried by insulator blocks 68 to fit therein and bridge the gaps 58 and 59 for completing the primary circuit when the cover section is applied and for breaking the primary circuit at the two gaps 58 and 59 when the cover section is removed. Under this construction and arrangement, it is obvious that injury or shock to a person is prevented due to the fact that the cover section completely houses the contact points when it is applied, While the removal of the cover breaks the primary circuit and renders the contacts dead when they are exposed.

What is claimed is:

l. A lighting unit including a step-up transformer having a pair of secondary windings, a single primary winding for connection with a source of supply, a pair of current outlet members respectively connected with the secondary windings and located on opposite sides of the transformer, each outlet member having a pair of contacts and a neon gas tube for each outlet member adapted to engage said contacts so that the tubes project outwardly from the transformer in opposite directions, a cover detachably carried by the transformer and overlying the current outlet members, and means on the cover for completing the circuit to the primary winding when the cover is applied and for breaking the circuit when the cover is removed.

2. A lighting unit including a step-up transformer having a pair of secondary windings, a single primary winding for connection with a source of supply, a pair of current outlet members respectively connected with the secondary windings and located on opposite sides of the transformer, each outlet member having a pair of contacts and a neon gas tube for each outlet member adapted to engage said contacts so that the tubes project outwardly from the transformer in opposite directions, a cover detachably carried by the transformer and overlying the current outlet members, and means on the cover for completing the circuit to the current outlet members when the cover is applied and for breaking the circuit thereof when the cover is removed.

3. A lighting unit including a step-up transformer having a pair of secondary windings, a single primary winding for connection with a source of supply, a pair of current outlet members respectively connected with the secondary outlet windings and located on opposite sides of the transformer, each member having a pair of sockets and a neon gas tube for each outlet member, each tube being bent upon itself to provide a pair of leads joined at one of their ends by a bight portion and formed at their opposite ends with angularly disposed terminals adapted to fit within the sockets of the outlet members so that the leads of the device project outwardly from the transformer in opposite directions.

4. A lighting unit for traific indicators of the type which include a hollow casing having a central portion provided with a depending tubular boss and having oppositely extending hollow wings, said unit comprising a step-up transformer having a primary winding and a pair of secondary windings, a current intake plug connected with the primary winding, a tubular depending skirt surrounding the current intake and adapted to telescopically fit within said tubular boss, a current outlet member for each secondary winding carried by and located on opposite sides of the transformer, and a return bent neon gas tube for each current outlet member connected therewith and extending therefrom respectively into the hollow wings of the indicator casing.

5. A lighting unit for trafi'ic indicators of the type which include a hollow casing having a central portion provided with a depending tubular boss and having oppositely extending hollow wings, said unit comprising a step-up transformer having a primary winding and a pair of secondary windings, a current intake plug connected with the primary winding, a tubular depending skirt surrounding the current intake and adapted to telescopically fit within said tubular boss, a current outlet member for each secondary winding carried by and located on opposite sides of the transformer, and a return bent neon gas tube for each current outlet member connected therewith and extending therefrom respectively into the hollow wings of the indicator casing, said skirt having telescopically extending grooves in the outer surface thereof.

6. A lighting unit including a step-up transformer having a pair of secondary win-dings, a current outlet member for each secondary winding respectively located on opposite sides of the transformer, each outlet member having a pair of sockets opening through the upper end thereof, a return bent neon gas tube for each outlet member, each tube having a pair of downturned ends to fit Within the sockets and a tube retaining element detachably secured to the transformer and overlying the sockets of the outlet members for engaging the tubes at the downturned ends thereof.

7. A lighting unit including a step-up trans-- 5 former having a primary winding and a pair of secondary windings, a current outlet member for each secondary winding respectively located on opposite sides of the transformer, each outlet member having a pair of sockets opening through I0 the upper end'thereof, a return bent neon gas tube for each outlet member, each tube having a pair of downturned ends to fit within the sockets and a tube retaining element detachably secured to the transformer and overlying the 15 sockets of the outlet members for engaging the tubes at the downturned ends thereof, a current intake connected with the primary winding and a tubular skirt depending from the transformer and surrounding the current intake. 20

8. In a trafiic indicator, a hollow casing having a depending tubular boss and an electric socket in said boss, a lighting unit including a step-up transformer having a pair of secondary windings, a socket member connected with each 25 secondary winding, said socket members being respectively mounted on opposite sides of the transformer, a neon gas tube for each socket member, a depending skirt at the lower end of the transformer adapted to telescopically fit 39 within the boss of the indicator casing for supporting the lighting unit therein, and a plug connected with the primary winding of the transformer, located within the skirt and adapted to engage the socket in the boss of the indicator casing when the skirt is telescopically fitted therein.

9. A lighting unit for a trafiic indicator of the character set forth, including a step-up transformer having a pair of secondary windings, a 40 single primary winding common to both of the secondary windings, a pair of insulated outlet members mounted respectively on opposite sides of the transformer, each outlet member having a pair of sockets, a terminal within each socket, the terminals of one socket member being connected with opposite ends of one of the secondary windings and the terminals of the other socket member being connected with the opposite ends of the other secondary winding of the transformer, and a neon gas tube for each socket member engageable within the socket and contacting with the terminals.

HARRY LANSING CAREY. 

